Sophus mathias scheen



(No Model.)

S. M. SGHEEN.

LETTER FILE AND BINDER COMBINED WITH PERFORATING DEVIG-E. No. 406,596.Patented July 9, 1889-.

M: @W W N X UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

SOPHUS MATHIAS SCHEEN, OF CHRISTIANIA, NORlVAY.

LETTER FILE AND BINDER COMBINED WITH PERFORATING DEV ICEQ SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 406,596, dated July 9, 1889.Application filed April 19, 1888. Serial No 270,190. (No model.)Patented in Norway March 14, 1888, No. 698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOPHUS MATHIAs} SCHEEN, a citizen of Norway,residing at 26 B Prindsens Gade, Ohristiania, Norway, have invented anImproved Letter File and Binder; Combined with Perforating Device, (forwhich I have obtained a patent in Norway, No. 698, bearing date March14:, 1888,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in transfer letter-files, and thenespecially that class of these in which the papers are filed upon one ortwo fixed needles projecting upward from a suitable base, and againstwhose upper ends the ends of curved transfer.

wires, which usually are pivoted to the base,

are made to close, so as to permit the filed papers to be thrown backfrom the needles, the needle with corresponding transfer-wire,

when attached to a smaller base-plate, forming a file or clip, whichusually is perfected by being aflixed to a larger tablet or board; andthe objects of my improvements are,

first, to produce a file which, constructed;

the manner as afterward described; third, to

afford extra facilities for a mere survey or inspection of the filedpapers; fourth, to provide simple and efficient means by which cleanapertures may be cut in the papers before inserting them on the needles,so as to gather the papers compactly on the needles and to facilitate aninspection of the papers, and the use therewith of alphabeticalindexstrips, and by which this perforating and the required gaging ofthe papers for the exact carrying out of same may most easily andconveniently be performed, and, fifth, to provide a keeper which,inserted on the needles on top of the papers, shall form the suitablemeans by which the papers are kept compactly together when the file isclosed. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in

which- I Figure 1 is a vertical section of the letterfile opened out,displaying two clips attached to a binding-case, the clips being shownin the position which they occupy when papers are being passed to andfro over needles and transfer-wires, and these latter in the closedposition by dotted linesand in the open position by full lines, whilethe perforating device is shown farthest to the left. Fig. 2 is a planview of the file opened out. The two clips are here shown in theposition parallel with each other, which they occupy when papers aretransferred from needles to transfer-wires, by dotted lines, and in theposition which they occupy in two recesses cut out in the'bottom boardof the binding-case as when the file is closedby full lines. Fig. 3 is avertical section of the binding-case, provided with a fiap at thejunction ofthe back piece and bottom board of same -to carry the needlesin the most complete form of the file. Fig. 4 is a detailed side view ofone of the base-plates of the clips. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectionalview of a short needle or stud, with a notched point,employed in theperforating device of the file; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of a keeper,which, inserted on the needles on top of the papers, serves to keepthese compactly together when the file is closed. Fig. 7 is a plan viewof plate K.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The invent-ion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists, primarily, inconstructing the letterfile with a binding-case A B C and with one ormore (but preferably two) transfer-clips, which, instead of beingrigidly fastened to the binding-case to attain the desired compact formof the file,have been attached to the binding-case in the manner asafterward de-- scribed. The two transfer-clips, the leading feature ofwhich is the needle and its corresponding transfer-wire, which may bethus employed and for that purpose, may dilfer as to construction andmechanism and be attached to the binding-case in more than one way. Theneedle may thus be straight or more or less curved, a solid pin, or ahollow tube. The transfer-wire mayby its controlling mechanism be madeto open from the needle by pushing backward or by swinging to the side.The needle may be fixed immediatelyin the bottom board of thebinding-case and the transfer-wire in abase-plate of its own. A simpleclip may even consist of the needle, which is a hollow tube immediatelyfixed in the bottom board of the binding-case, and in its upper end theouter curved end of a transferwire may be inserted and lifted out atpleasure, while its other end is left to hang free without beingattached to any baseplate, only bent over sufficiently to prevent thepapers from slipping off; but, preferably, each of the clips consists ofthe needle D, projecting upward from a base-plate F, and oftransfer-wire E, also with its lower or inner end attached to the samebase-plate F, and which are attached to thebottom board C of thebinding-case, in the following manner: Employed in the usual way, thetwo clips would then be rigidly fixed on the inner side of the bottomboard 0 of the binding-case, and the outer or back ends of thebase-plates F and the back ends of the transfer-wires E would then besituated right out at the inner edge of the bottom board 0, where it isjoined to the back piece B of the binding-case, and a paper inserted onthe needles D in the usual way would with its inner edge lie somedistance in from the joint, andwhen the file was closed there would thenbe a considerable empty space between the inner side of the back piece Band the inner ends of the papers, and a bad form imparted to the wholestructure. The two clips are therefore to bring about the compact formof the file aimed at, in which the inner edge of a paper inserted on theneedles lies fiush with or close to the joint of back piece B and bottomboard C,

shifted farther back to the left, their baseplates F (see Fig. 1) nowprojecting over the inner edge of the bottom board 0, and when thebinding-case A B O is opened out flat resting partly on the bottom board0 and partly on the back piece B of same. If rigidly fastened in thisposition, they would,

however, prevent the closing of the file. The

clips are therefore attached to the bindingcase in such a manner thatthe outer parts of the two clips may be swung off the back piece B andentirely in on the bottom board 0, the transfer-wires E hereby movingclose up to the inner edge of the bottom board 0 and the papers resting011 same, while the clip base-plates F slip in under the papers.

. This feature of the letter-file, provided with movable clips, is inone form carried out by fastening to the bottom board C at its inneredge (which is, say, of only moderate thickness) a strip or plate (Z, ofsuitable material and of the same thickness as the clip baseplates F. Inthis (see Figs. 1 and 2) inner thick part Od of the bottom board are cutout the two recesses H, of a size and depth equal to the thickness ofthe base-plates F. The two clips deposited in these two recesses H are(see Fig.1) kept in the desired position I by a plate K, in which are,as shown in Fig. 2, the two apertures a, to correspond with the needlesD, being slipped over these and onto the before-mentioned inner thickpart Cd of the bottom board and there fastened down, thus covering overthe two recesses H, the bottom of which is formed by the bottom board 0in its original state. The clips, with the needles D turning in theapertures a of the covering-plate K, may now be swung in and out of therecesses H, the transfer-wires E when the file is closed onlyintervening between the inner side of the back piece B and the papersinserted on the needles.

In closing the file (see Fig. 2) two slits b in the top board A of thebinding-case are penetrated by the upper curved parts of thetransfer-wires, which appear on the outer side of the top board A justsufficiently to keep the binding-case A B C in position, whereby thefile may be conveniently handled without the binding-case slipping.

When the diiferent parts of the bindingcase A B C are constructed andjoined together, as described and shown, Fig. 1, the two clips areplaced where the back piece B is joined to the bottom board O at thelower edge of the inner thick part Cd of same, and preferably keptaltogether inside the binding-case; but the back piece B may also bejoined to the bottom board at the upper edge of the inner thick part Cdof same. As thus constructed when the file is opened out the back pieceB would be resting on the outer parts of the clip base-plates F, twoparallel slits in the top board A and back piece B of the binding-caseallowing the transfer-wires E to pass through, and not before the filewas closed would the clips be free to swing to the side.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the clip baseplates would disappear beneaththe papers; but the transfer-wires, instead of being inside thebinding-case, would now fold up against the outer side of the back pieceB, the inner side of which would be in immediate contact with thepapers. I

As already mentioned, the two transferclips, which may be employed andso attached to the binding-case of the file that the transfer-wiresswing up to the papers, may vary as to construction and mechanism; butthe invention, as relating to this part of the letter-file, consists inconstructing two such clips, which are easily worked, are secure, andhave the advantage of a thin base-plate, adding little to the bulk ofthe bottom board, thus specially adapted for their purpose, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, each with the needle Dprojecting upward from a suitablebaseplate F, and a tram sfer-wire E, the outer curved end of whichpreferably ends in a' wedgeshaped point 0 and closes in a correspondingnotch or double point e in the upper end of the needle D, but the innerend of which is carried down to the outer or back end of the base-plateF, where it is bent sharp over and through the needle D andtransfer-wire E and carried through an aperture or slot '1). Emergingfrom this aperture on the other side of' the base-plate F it is againbent sharp over in a forward direction into an arm g, and so shaped (seeFig. 2) that when the transfer wire E is thrown back'from the needle Dand then again pushed forward, as at the closing of the clip, this arm 9then slightly impinges on the upper edge of the base-plate F, andsimultaneously with the closing of the clip springs in under the upperedge of the base'- plate F and into a shallow groove h, cut out, asshown in Fig. 4:, in the side of the clip baseplate, locking the clipsufficiently firm to allow papers to pass to and fro over the needle andtransfer-wire, while a slight push against the upper end of thetransfer-wire easily disengages the arm 9 from the groove h and opensthe clip. When two of these clips are attached to the bottom hoard O, asdescribed, and each swung into its recess, this arm g,

which in each of the clips lies on that side of the base-plate F whichfirst disappears in the recess by the covering-plate K, which covers Ithe recesses, as before mentioned, is prevented from rising out of thegroove h, and the clip is completely locked and the accidental es-' capeof papers from the needles thus pre- Vented.

Though the letter-file provided with the two movable clips immediatelyattached to the bottom board 0 of the file, as described, is, as far asthe fastening of the clips to the binding'case goes, in its simplestform com- 1 Fig. 3, provided on the inner side,where back piece B andbottom board 0 meet,with a flap L, on which are built up the tworecessesin the same manner as described, and shownin Figs. 1 and 2. Thisflap L may be formed by a strip of cloth; but it is preferably a metalplate, which by its inner edge is hinged onto another metal plate M,fastened on the inner side of the back piece B of the binding-case. Thismetal hinge L M forms then also a suit able floor on which the clipsmove, protecting underlying parts from Wear.

the inner thick part Cd of same, would also allow the needles to bethrown into this horizontal position to facilitate a reference to thepapers; but to avoid the looseness of structure occasioned hereby and topreserve the stiffness and strength which a bottom board allin one pieceaffords, the letter-file is preferably and in its most complete form'constructed with the flap L, as shown in Fig. 3, and this feature, withthe flap L carrying the clips, forms also part of the invention.

The invention consists, furthermore, in constructing a suitable punch orperforator adapted to out clean holes through sheets of paper (seeFig. 1) with two short needles or studs 0, the tops of which, instead ofbeing flat, are, as shown in Fig. 5, by a notchformed into a doublepoint n. The two' studs 0 might have been fixed (see Fig. 1) in thefront part of the bottom plateP of the punch or immediately in the topboardA itself; but preferably they are at its outer free end and on theunder side fixed in the top plate R of the perforator, which by itsopposite or inner edge is hinged onto the back end of the bottom plateP, and thus forms a flap, which may be lifted and depressedat pleasure.

On the under side of the top plate R, a suitable distance behind thestuds O, is byits inner end fixed a third plate S, whose outer free endprojects in front of the studs 0, which thus are situated between thislatter intermediate plate S and the top plate R. In the intermediateplate S, as well as in the bottom plate P, are apertures to registerwith the studs 0 when the flap R is pressed down. This bottom plate P(see Figs. 1 and 2) is at its outer end, in front of the above-mentionedtwo apertures and parallel with a line between these, turned up into abeveled ridge p, and it is fastened to the top board A of thebinding-ease by being slipped from the side in under a plate T, fixed onthe inner side of the top board A, and itis kept in position by theabove-mentioned ridge p engaging with a corresponding hollow way orfurrow q in the plate T. For further fastening, a split button w isintroduced from the outside of the top board A and pushed through acorresponding aperture in the bottom plate P, and is bent over on theinner side of said plate. The punch or perforat-or fastened to the topboard A, as described, may readily be detached from one file and againattached to another, if desired. When in perforating a paper this isdeposited on the top board A and the flap R is depressed, theintermediate plate S is the first to come in contact with the paper andkeeps it pressed against the top board A, while the studs 0, enteringthe corresponding apertures in this plate S and in the bottom plate P,pierce the paper, and, lastly, enter similar apertures t in the topboard A itself. \Vhen the flap R is lifted up, the plate S springs outand pushes the paper off the studs. For the convenient and accurategaging of the papers in perforating, the perforating device is providedwith lugs u, against which the' papers are laid. These are most easilyformed from two narrow strips of the bottom plate itself bent over, asshown in Figs .1 and 2, at a point a suitable distance behind theapertures t. In other direct-ions the very outlines of the top board Aitself, on which the papers are laid, afford a down over the recesses.

guidance to place these, so that when inserted on the needles D theyshall occupy the desired position in the tile. WVit-h the notched studsin a simple perforating device as this, several papers may be perforatedat once.

The punch constructed as described, and in conjunction with the topboard A of the binding-case, thus constitutes the suitable means forgaging and perforating the papers.

With the object of keeping the papers c0111- pactly together 011 theneedles when the file is closed, the file is provided with a keeper,which is inserted on the needles on top of the papers. his, as shown inFig. 6, consists of a suitable plate N, in which are the two apertures1', through which it is inserted on the needles D. This plate N isprovided with a tube It, and a bent Wire m, as shown in Fig. 6, has bothends inserted in the openings of the tube 70. In its inner part, nearthe tube and in a line parallel with the tube, this wire m from one sideto another is somewhat broader across than the distance between theneedles, but tapering, as shown in Fig. 6, toward its outer free end.This may be swung in'between the needles, and when it is pressed down onthe plate N, both ends of the wire in are forced farther into the tube70, and it acts as a spring to both sides, pressing sufficiently hardagainst the needles to keep the plate N in the required position on topof the papers; and this keeper thus constructed forms also part of theinvention.

In one form the improved combined letter file and binder and combinedperforating device is constructed with a binding-case of card-board ofuniform thickness, whose parts, joined together in the usual manner,form (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3) the top board A, back piece B, and bottomboard 0. To the inner side of the back piece B, as shown in Fig. 3, isriveted a tin plate M, at the lower edge of which, where back piece Band bottom board 0 meet, is hinged another tin plate, which forms theflap L, which is of the samelength as the back piece B. On the upperside of this flap are, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, built up the tworecesses H. A wooden strip (1, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) which is of the samethickness as the base-plates F, and which has been sawed out for the tworecesses and is there glued immediately to the bottom board G, is, inFig. 3, instead, nailed onto the flap L. In the two recesses thuscarried by the flap L are deposited the two transfer-clips, which arekept in the required position by a tin plate K, such as shown in Figs. 1and 2, slipped onto the needles of the clips and screwed The clips (seeFigs. 1 and 2) are each constructed of two wires D and E and an ironbase-plate F. The wire D, constituting the needle, is riveted at itslower end to the base-plate F. The other Wire E, forming thetransfer-wire, is attached to the base-plate F by (as described) beingcarried in and out of an aperture f bored in the baseplate F, and thenbent into the arm g, which,

shaped as described, locks in a groove h in the side of the base-platewhen the file is closed.

The perforating device is constructed of four small pieces of sheet-tinT, P, S, and R and the two notched steel studs 0. The two tin plates Pand R, of which the first forms the bottom plate and is the largest ofthe two, and the other the top plate, are hinged together so that astrip of the bottom plate P on each side is projecting beyond the topplate R. At the free end of this top plate R are inserted and rivetedthe two steel studs 0, and be hind these soldered on the intermediateplate S. At the free end of this plate S, projecting beyond the studs 0,as well as in the bottom plate P and the top board A of thebinding-case, are bored holes to register with the studs 0. The free endof the bottom plate P is turned up into a beveled ridge p, as described,and from the side slid in under the small tin plate T, riveted to thetop board A, and on the under side of which is-a raised hollow way orgroove q, to correspond with the ridge 19. For further fastening of thebottom plate P to the top board A is a split button from outside pushedthrough the top board A and a corresponding hole in the bottom plate P,and on the inner side of this bent over. Two cuts have been made in thebefore-mentioned projecting parts of the bottom plate P. v The twonarrow strips it thus produced have been cut off to a suitable lengthand bent over in a forward direction to form the lugs, against which thepapers are laid when perforating the same.

The keeper is constructed from a small strip of sheet-tin N, which hasbeen bent over to form the tube 70, in which an iron wire shaped asdescribed and shown in Fig. 6 has been inserted. WVhen the clips are tobe opened for the filing of a paper the keeper is, as shown in Fig. 2,first transferred to the transfer-wires. r

The file is, in its most complete form, constructed with a binding-caseA B C; but a mere tablet or board may be substituted for this to formthe suitable base against which the filed papers rest. Such tablet orboard, being of the same size as the bottom board 0 and back piece Btogether, would be provided with the flap L', hinged onto the plate M,fastened at the upper part of the board.

TOC

The flap L would carry the clips capable of the sidewise movement, as inthe foregoing description. The clip transfer-Wires being swung to theside close up to the papers, the flap L might then be raised up into avertical position, thereby throwing the needles backward into ahorizontal position. The papers inserted 011 the needles will then openout to both sides, and facilities for inspection are afforded whichotherwise could only be attained by having recourse to the transfer ofthe papers to the transfer-wires of the file.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of myinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is- 1. In a file for letters, papers, invoices, &c., thecombination of a binding-case, impaling needle or needles, and archedtransfer wire or wires, which latter, with their forward curved endsclosing on or interlocking with the needles, are susceptible of asidewise motion, by which the back ends of the said transfer-wires swingoff theback piece of the hinding-case and close up to the inner edge ofthe bottom board of same and to the papers resting on it, substantiallyas and for the purposes specified.

2. In a file for letters, papers, invoices, &c.,

the combination of a binding-case, impaling needle or needles, andarched transfer wire or wires, which latter, with their forward curvedends closing on or interlocking with the needles, are susceptible of asidewise motion, and by the base-plates F connected with thebinding-case A B C of the letter-file, arranged substantially as and forthe purposes specified.

3. The combination, with a base-plate F, of a transfer-wire E, whoseinner end, carried through an aperture f in the base-plate, is providedwith an arm g, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. A binding-case A B i O, in combination with a flap L to allow theneedles D to be thrown into a horizontal position, as and for thepurposes specified.

5. In a file for letters, invoices, and papers, in which a mere tabletor board is substituted for the binding-caseA B C to form a suitablebase against which the filed papers rest,the combination of such boardor tablet, needle or needles D, transfer wire or wires E, and flap L,the transfer-wires E being capable of a sidewise movement, by whichtheir back parts swing close up to the inner edge of the papers, and theflap L allowing the needles to be thrown back into ahorizontal position,all arranged substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The combination, with the studs 0, fixed in theplate R, of the plateS,by its inner end fastened to the plate R and in its outer free endhaving apertures registering with the studs 0, substantially as shown.

7. The combination, with the top board A of the binding-case, of a plateT, having a groove g, which, together with a split button w, serves tofasten the paper-punch to the binding-case, substantially as shown.

8. The combination, with the needles D, of a wire m, which, with bothends carried into the openings of the tube 70 of a plate N, swings inbetween the needles D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

sornus MATI-IIAS scnEEiI.

Witnesses:

SIGRID RINGVOLD, CHRISTIAN I-IAUFF.

